New Regulars
New Regulars are a blues rock band from the Central Coast, NSW. Their sound is unmistakable and translates all too well into a live setting. Their set features their existing singles Hollywood Deranged, Shut Up, and Stolen Honey; some older favourites like Move Over and Help Me Out; and hot-off-the-press tracks Hot Girls and Trouble On The Run.
The band are famous for their undeniable swagger, which is what sets them aside from bands who can only hope to be of similar calibre. For a three-piece band, their sound is enormous - and only a small part of that enormity is created by effects. Fuzz and distortion pedals are used by singer/guitarist Kurt Ellis and bassist Anthony Collins as an accent to their sound, not as the foundation of it. Drummer Cypress Bartlett utilises a crisp and clean sound, with his embellishments coming from a more traditional use of instrumentation - namely the effective use of a tambourine in Help Me Out.
Their set is bookended by brilliant tracks, but the beauty of a New Regulars show is that the entire setlist is peppered with songs that are engaging - they make you want to get up and dance (Shut Up), sing along (Help Me Out), or wave your lighter in the air (Cannonball). The enthusiasm evident in their performances inspires an equally enthusiastic response from their audience, no matter how big or small. They also cover The Black Keys' (from whom they clearly take a lot of inspiration) Lonely Boy and Jimi Hendrix's version of All Along The Watchtower.
New Regulars are unique in the sense that they maintain their originality, whilst being so appealing to the mainstream market. They have achieved relative success on the Sydney/Central Coast/Newcastle music scene, but they have some songs up their sleeve that are bound to make them hit the big time. Hot Girls is a dirty dancefloor track that even the most reserved listener can't resist moving to, and Cannonball is their Kings of Leon-esque stadium anthem that could easily have thousands of people singing along.
The bottom line is: if New Regulars are playing a show in your neck of the woods, don't miss out. Take advantage of the opportunity before they are selling out stadiums all around the world.
* Find New Regulars on Facebook here
* Watch New Regulars on YouTube here
* Buy New Regulars' music here
Stranger Than Paradise
Stranger Than Paradise are a young originals band from the Central Coast, NSW that classify themselves as rock/pop. Their classification is very applicable as their sound, look, and performance are a pleasant balance between the two genres.
The band's youthful, carefree attitude exudes an almost punk vibe; this combines magnificently with their well-written, pop-sensible originals about the typical topics of love and loneliness. The result is catchy songs with equal amounts of sugar and spice, encouraging comparisons to bands who have capitalised on similar formulas, namely Australia's own - now hugely internationally successful - 5 Seconds of Summer.
Their eclectic mix of covers combined seamlessly with their originals and made their performance accessible to listeners of any age. Their punky cover of Katy Perry's I Kissed A Girl would have enthralled anyone of Generations X or Y, while their clean and classic cover of Dragon's April Sun In Cuba and edgy, inventive version of all-time classic Jimi Hendrix's Voodoo Child would have been standouts to any fan of classic rock.
Stranger Than Paradise are impressively cohesive - both instrumentally and aesthetically. An across the board beach-casual look combined with musical talent far exceeding their young years make them a dream for any record marketing company.
A lot can be said for not judging a book by its cover, and this could not be more true when talking about Stranger Than Paradise. Do not be blinded by their tender years; all members of the band's talents far exceed those of their peers, and their fine-tuned performances and cleverly written songs make them a formidable opponent for any bands of similar genres hoping to compete.
* Find Stranger Than Paradise on Facebook here
* Find Stranger Than Paradise on YouTube here
* Listen to Stranger Than Paradise here
Smoko Khan
Smoko Khan are a newly formed rock originals band from the Central Coast, NSW. They clearly draw inspiration from a wide variety of sources, which are apparent in their performances and songwriting. An almost disco-style high-hat rhythm, akin to that in INXS' To Look At You, is featured in one song, whilst another track has a feel of Eagle Eye Cherry's Save Tonight.
Their musicianship is clear, with their originals featuring unique, bold walking bass lines and pleasantly dissonant shrill, distorted guitar. Lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist/songwriter Brendan Watson's voice is the spearhead of Smoko Khan's robust sound, with lead guitarist/backing vocalist/co-songwriter Taylor Molnar, bassist/backing vocalist/producer Daniel Kidston and drummer/backing vocalist Ryan Mathison's instrumentation adding to the depth and power of the band's sound.
Despite only being formed in early 2015, Smoko Khan can really hold their own.
* Find Smoko Khan on Facebook here
Sean Frazer
Sean Frazer is an acoustic singer/songwriter from the Central Coast, NSW. He is renowned among all who have seen him play as a wonderful songwriter and wordsmith who performs with passion and conviction.
With just an acoustic guitar and a microphone, it is hard to imagine Sean Frazer more at home anywhere than he is in an Aussie pub setting. His heartfelt songs about - at times - touchy subjects, such as Engine, a powerful song about a returned serviceman, resonate with every member of his audience, whether young or old.
* Find Sean Frazer on Facebook here
* Find Sean Frazer on YouTube here
* Listen to Sean Frazer here
* Find Sean Frazer's website here
* Buy Sean Frazer's music here
